Kyiv issues ultimatum to Minsk over relay stations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has given Belarus a one-week deadline to dismantle signal relay stations on its territory that he says are being used by Russia to coordinate attacks on Ukraine, warning that Kyiv will act unilaterally if Minsk does not comply.
Speaking at a news conference in Kyiv on Friday, Zelenskyy said the relay stations — located in two Belarusian regions bordering Ukraine — were helping Russian forces steer drone and missile strikes against Ukrainian civilians. He added that a week should be sufficient for Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to remove the equipment.
“What’s the point of saying he doesn’t want to be in the war? Let him remove this equipment, let him switch it off,” Zelenskyy said. “If he doesn’t do it, we’ll do it,” he added, without specifying what form Ukrainian action would take.
On Saturday, Zelenskyy repeated the call in his nightly video address, saying Ukraine was aware of at least four such relay stations assisting Russian military activity. He also warned that Kyiv knows “about every factory in Belarus that works for Russia and supports the war.”
Belarusian oil refining under scrutiny
Zelenskyy also took aim at Belarus’s refining industry, accusing Lukashenko of becoming one of the Russian army’s main fuel suppliers. According to Ukrainian data, gasoline deliveries from Belarus to Russia increased thirteenfold between January and May compared to the same period last year, while diesel supplies tripled.
“Today he is the main supplier, or one of the main suppliers, for the Russian army. Specifically, Lukashenko, specifically Belarus,” Zelenskyy said. “Can this be stopped? I’m sure it’s within his power.”
The Ukrainian president’s comments come as Kyiv intensifies its campaign of long-range drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, part of a broader effort to cripple Moscow’s war economy after more than four years of conflict.
Context: A fragile but tense northern front
Belarus has been one of Moscow’s closest allies since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, allowing Russian troops to use its territory as a staging ground. However, Lukashenko has repeatedly stopped short of committing Belarusian forces directly to combat, insisting Minsk does not want to be drawn deeper into the war.
In a recent interview with Al Arabiya, Lukashenko apologized to Zelenskyy for past remarks and said Belarus posed no threat to Ukraine. “But when I started to be threatened, I had to answer,” he said.
Ukraine has been strengthening defences along its northern border in recent weeks, including installing concrete barriers and anti-tank ditches. The moves reflect growing concern that Moscow may once again attempt to open a second front from Belarusian territory. In mid-May, Zelenskyy warned that Russia was considering “operations to the south and north of Belarusian territory” either against Ukraine or a NATO country.
The relay station dispute marks the sharpest exchange between Kyiv and Minsk in months. Zelenskyy’s threat of unilateral action raises the risk of a direct confrontation on Belarus’s soil — a scenario both sides have previously sought to avoid.
International reactions
European Union Chief António Costa defended Brussels’ diplomatic outreach to the Kremlin on Friday, arguing that the bloc needed to maintain a direct channel with Moscow despite pushback from some member states. “It is precisely because we need also to support Ukraine through diplomatic means that we need to have a direct diplomatic channel with Russia,” Costa said after an EU summit. However, he acknowledged there were no “credible signs” that Russia was willing to engage in meaningful dialogue.
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya backed Zelenskyy’s tough stance, saying in a statement: “Ukraine is showing today how dictators should be dealt with — only from a position of strength. And Ukraine has that strength.”
Broader implications: A pivot point for Lukashenko
The ultimatum puts Lukashenko in a difficult position. Complying with Kyiv’s demands could anger Moscow and undermine his value as an ally. Refusing, however, risks Ukrainian strikes on Belarusian territory and potential escalation.
Zelenskyy’s linking of Belarus’s refining industry to Russian military operations also signals that Ukraine is prepared to target economic assets it considers part of Moscow’s war machine. Belarus’s oil sector has long been a pillar of its economy, drawing crude from Russia and exporting refined products.
The standoff underscores how the war has destabilized Belarus’s strategic position. Once a buffer state between Russia and NATO, it now faces the prospect of becoming a direct target. The developments also come as Lukashenko has been releasing jailed political opponents in a bid to improve ties with the United States, suggesting he may be seeking to diversify his international support.
If Kyiv follows through on its threat, it would mark a significant escalation in the conflict — one that could draw Belarus more directly into the war despite its stated neutrality. For now, the clock is ticking on Lukashenko’s response.
Comments